THE ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTION CURE: A Holistic Approach to Total Recovery

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The breakthrough three-step program to total recovery from addiction to drugs, alcohol and addictive behaviors. Reveals the four causes of dependency and shows how to create a personalized , holistic treatment program to completely cure your dependency.

Customer Reviews:

The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure book reviewI am completely satisfied because I received the book quickly and in good condition. The supplier was a pleasure to order from, and I would order from them again. ...more info

Helped me stop drinking!! This book was great for me. period. I have been battling with drug/alcohol abuse for the past 10 years until one day I decided I had to stop. That's when I ordered this book that really helped me understand the underlying cause of why I was drinking. It was then that I was able to stop. The book does go into depth about different holistic/medical doctors that can help you..but ultimately it's up to YOU to make the decision to quit. This book is for those who are ready to get sober...it's a great first step. And if you're strong like me you can quit the drinking easily. I didn't see a doctor, I just read this book and made a commitment to myself that I wouldn't wreck my mind,body,and soul with alcohol and drugs anymore. I know not all people will be able to do what I did, but you'll never know until you get this book! Thank you Chris and Pax for sharing your story and helping me to understand why I was abusing alcohol/drugs in the 1st place, and then helping me to face up to that "why". Thank you!...more info

The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure by Chris PrentissThis book was loaned to me by a friend in recovery. My friend needed to send his copy to his mom which prompted me to buy my own copy.

This book's explaination of dependency and healing is addressed on all levels. Cellular, emotional, spiritual and more is explored. I found many, many answers to help me in further strengthening my new life in recovery.

The importance of nutrition, health, rest, prayer, and happiness were made more understandable to me while enjoying the education this book provided me.

Saved a Friend's Life!!This book literally saved my friend's life. Changed his whole perspective and responses to environmental stimuli....more info

What a crock!How can you "cure" what is NOT a disease?!? I tried holistic, psychological, religious and "behavior mod" attempts to get sober for 8 years!!! They nearly killed me! Until I accepted that I could not accurately and consistently predict the outcome of any "drinking episode" (ie I am powerless...) I continued to attempt to control my drinking. Accepting my condition enabled me to begin to deal with it effectively. I have 22 years sober! This is a fancy book to sell a $50,000.00 a month TREATMENT program that is NOT based on the latest research! Do not be fooled by good marketing, hype and drummed up controversy!...more info

Mixed--Useful and Costly. No Discussion of PRO-ADDICTION TICK INFECTIONSI would add that infections that most labs miss like Atypical Bartonella,untreated Lyme disease and Babesia can increase inflammation, discomfort, agitation, and brain chemistry trouble and add to the biology. Most addictionologists have no idea what these infections are, and that the dummied down national labs do not even test for most human species usefully. But none of these are rare.
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Right on the spotThe first half of the book was great, it provided insight and a terrific analysis of addiction and the potential for cure, the second half was a little redundent but overall the book was great...more info

Read the First Six ChaptersRead the first six chapters. Then, throw the book away. I guess hope does spring eternal. I am sure that a lot of troubled people really hoped that there would be an answer in the book. While there is no "answer", it does provide a glimmer of hope for those poor souls who have been brain-washed into thinking that their situation is hopeless unless they walk around all day saying that "I'm an alcoholic", or "I'm an addict".

Also, the re-emphasis that there is an underlying cause for their dependency may be useful to some. ...more info

Amazing approach to treating addiction.In his "Alcohol & Addiction Cure," Chris Prentiss has discovered a system involving an amost Freudian technique to finding the reason we become addicted to alcohol and drugs. Without denegrating (too much)the traditional solutions of AA and similar programs, he claims that the root of the problem is not an ingrained penchant for self-destruction through substance abuse, but the need to self-medicate ourselves against real or perceived emotional pain, guilt or trauma. Tradional methods of treating addiction immerse the addict in a life-long state of a past/present condition; Prentiss' "cure" purportedly frees the addict of that stigma and places him/her back in the realm of "normalcy." Although traditional rehabilitation treatments admit a 95% failure rate, Prentiss claims a 95% success rate: impressive.
Although I do not agree with his final premis that "all tragedies in our lives happen for some good," the concept of his unique approach to treating addiction certainly has more than enough merit to invite further exploration. ...more info

A must read for everyone affected by an "alcoholism"This book has valuable information for you and your family. It has helped us tremendously. Thank you for reading....more info

Very interestingThis book was well worth the time to read, no matter where you are at in your life. It makes a strong point that addictions can be cured instead of lived with like a disease forever. I did not agree with their approach on spirituality and some of the Chinese healing philosophy, but I still learned a great deal that helped me and I think would definitely help others. I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you have a friend or loved one who struggles with any addiction. Certainly, the same would be true if one personally suffers from the same. If the success statistics from the approach used in this book are true, anyone with any addiction should read this. It is much cheaper to buy this book from Amazon, brand new. It sells in many places for over twice as much as I paid for it on Amazon....more info

alcohol and addiction cureThis book/audio CD is great for anyone who wants to quit drinking and/or using drugs. I have been to other Rehab centers and AA but neither has worked. After many stints in rehab and AA ,I felt comletely hopeless and I decided to give soberity one last shot and I'm glad I did. This book has given me what no other program has been able to give, and that is HOPE. This common sense approch to soberity is the way all rehab centers should be.This is a truely wonderful program that has saved my life. ...more info

The Alcoholism and Addiction CureBy far the most logical, intelligent, and practical analysis of this subject I've ever seen on this subject and I've seen a lot! Thank you Chris Prentiss. I'm immediately ordering additional copies of your book for interested and intelligent friends and family. By the way, I noticed WITH GREAT INTEREST a previous "ONE STAR" review of your book submitted in late March that went on and on broadcasting the reviewer's pride in his own atheistic views along with his damning of AA with faint praise. I'd give that review FIVE STARS FOR POMPOSITY! Reminds me of my experience in grad school at one of the most liberal, if not THE most liberal university in the United States. That review of your book drives home the primary reason why your book, a very effective debunking of current mainstream thinking re treatment rationale is so very, very important and unique. Thank you again Chris Prentiss for your work and insight. ...more info

WonderingAn alcoholic for 15 years, the 12-steps don't work for me because I don't want to turn my life over to a religious cult. I sobered up using Rational Recovery, but it was difficult to say the least.
I saw an info-mercial for this book, and found some of it helped me even after sobriety.
It was great to finally read someone de-bunk the ridiculous "disease" idea!
It wasn't a disease that put the beer to my mouth, it was my hand....more info

Book ReviewThis is a fantastic book for addicts as well as people whose lives are affected by living around/with an addict. I believe this is the answer. If someone really wants to quit, this is the way to do it....more info

For those who are 'white knuckling their way through sobriety...'As a talk show host I am accustom to being inundated with requests from PR folks trying to get me to book their particular client on my show to plug their book. Since I didn't like my current events show to be a blatant advertisement for a writer, I generally delete these types of solicitation ...25 times a day. In fact I had hit delete on the email regarding Chris Prentiss's book just as my eye caught a phrase and I had to actually retrieve the message. It was the cure rate of better than 80% that got my attention, and triggered my skepticism...along with a tiny sliver of hope since I knew how many times friends and members of my own family had fallen off the wagon. I booked Chris for 15 minutes and they sent me the book. A few days beforehand I thought I better skim the book so I could ask him some tough questions. I read the entire book and called the pr representative back and booked Chris for the entire show. I think what hooked me was Chris's comment about observing an AA meeting where people were `white knuckling their way through sobriety". Controversial statement. And true for too many. The book was specific about the path. Find the underlying cause(s). Work on that. The true story of his son's journey was engaging and encouraging. For weeks and months after the show I received emails and phone calls from listeners: "What was the name of that guy again? What's the name of his book?" Of all the shows and topics I have covered in 17 years on air, I have never received such a response.

"The Alcoholism And Addiction Cure" is a core additionAlcoholism continues to be the most pervasive and widespread addiction in the United States. The number of alcoholics in the country is numbered in the millions. Traditional treatments for alcoholism have relapse rates as high as 80%. Except for one - 'Passages'. This three step treatment program originates from a substance abuse treatment center based in Malibu, California, and is the basis of "The Alcoholism And Addiction Cure: A Holistic Approach To Total Recovery". Co-founder of 'Passages', Chris Prentiss deftly lays out just how to create a personalized, holistic treatment program to completely cure a dependency; explains the four causes of dependency; shows just how thoughts, emotions, and beliefs serve as key factors in the recovery from dependency; and how the stimulation of the body's self-healing potential can lead to the permanent elimination of dependency. A critically important and thoroughly 'reader friendly' instructional guide to recovery from alcoholism or addictions to other drugs or substances, "The Alcoholism And Addiction Cure" is a core addition to personal, professional, substance abuse treatment center, and community library Health & Medicine reference collections and reading lists....more info

Extremely wistful yet basicI think this book is extremely wistful. It elaborates on the obvious which is that alcohol or drugs are not the problem....it is the feeling that makes one want to use them. The discovery of the issues and then learning some new tools as to how to manage them will erradicate the need for alcohol or drugs. Also, the book discusses how one must be very careful as to how we define ourselves as that can affect our self esteem and future choices (for example saying I am Julie and I am an alcoholic). This book describes a program in which the "user" is not being punished but rather becomes enlightened so that there really can be a cure rather than a "white knuckling" through life on life's terms....more info

An Essential book for the whole of Western SocietyThis book is greatly needed in our Society where addiction is rife, acceptable at low levels and devastating at other levels. Pax's story is incredible and moving and as a person who works closely with addicted people who have found themselves lock behind bars or in a personal prison of addition at home, its a revelation. Lets embrace change, move into a healthy future and help ourselves overcome our slavery to drugs and alcohol....more info

What's the real issue?There's a sour apple review that I just don't understand. The holistic healer (Hymen rupture is his name. Would you go to a wholistic healer with that internet name?) is obviously jealous. He completely misses the point. It's not about money and the fees charged at the author's clinic, Passages. The book is the author's attempt to bring what he has learned to the public so they don't have to spend lots of money. Don't attack the messenger for your lack of wholeness. After reading the book, I felt the author, Chris Prentiss and his son have only one agenda. It's to help people in need and they're good at it. The naysayers will never be in their league as long as they play the blame game and think it's about money. Hopefully Mr. Rupture will figure it out one day. It's about compassion, service, understanding and walking the middle way. By the way, I wrote a longer more in depth review at my site: [...]William House...more info

Weird and illogicalI suspect that this book will resonate for some people and not others. If it resonates for someone, then I think that's great. One takes help where one finds it.

For me, though, this book reads like new-agey warmed over 12 step, plus vitamins, acupuncture and massage. I don't see any basis for Passage's claims of being the most successful treatment program in the US; it looks to me as if they do the same thing that 12 step rehabs do--they measure their success by counting only the clients who are successful. You can come up with a great number when you say "it works for all the people it works for." What I want to know is if a person walks in the front door, how likely is it that person is sober a couple of years later? But they never tell you THAT number!

I also have to say that I was not terribly moved by all the angst-riddled material about Pax Prentiss's addiction. It's not that I don't think his situation was horrible, it's just that it's not unique. Every one of us who has been addicted or has had an addicted family member knows the drill, knows how bad it gets and how frustrating it is, and it gets old. If I wanted to hear a drunkalog I could go to an AA meeting and hear one any day of the week...C'mon. ...more info

THE BIG BUCKS ADDICTION SCAMDo not expect too much help with your addiction from reading this book. While there were some worthwhile, warmed over insights this book is essentially a lengthy promotion for their in-patient recovery program costing tens of thousands of dollars. There is nothing in the book that helps you get unhooked from your addiction without their clinic and/or a myriad of experts trained in their methodology. If you visit their web site they have quite an array of goods for sale to "assist" in your recovery. This is a product mill, for sure. Lot's of promise, no delivery. ...more info

MISLEADING TITLEAfter seeing the advertisement and reading a few reviews I was excited to purchase this book so that my family and I could gain insight into helping our loved one who struggles with drug addiction. I think that anyone who has faced the demon of drug addiction is always searching for that magic potion that would make it all go away. That's what I thought and hoped this book would be. It was not. This book does contain some very key insights into the problem of drug addicts and their way of thinking. But more than half of the book told the story of the drug addiction of the author's son and the actions brought forth because of his addiction. Anyone who has ever been involved with a drug addicted loved one has enough war stories of their own without reading about someone else's. We all know they will lie, cheat and steal for the next one, so that was a little bothersome to me because his son's road to recovery may not be the next man's road and to spend over half of the book recalling his journey through addiction was basically old news to me. If you have unlimited financial resources then this book is for you because it basically is the program for the famous rehab center in Malibu, CA which I don't know anyone who can afford that. In the end, I believe that information is power and we need all the power we can get to fight to save our loved ones from the depths of hell that is drug addiction. Not a complete waste of money but not a "CURE" either....more info

Marketing at its best, Research at its worstI am a Licensed Psychologist with expertise in Substance Abuse and Mental Illness. I am not bias in any way for or against the book. However, it is not very scientific and sound. The author makes very contradictory statements. He allows his son, Pax, to write about when he was in the throes of his addiction. Pax's 10 years of active addiction underscores that it is a disease and that you are powerless without intervention. The author goes on to say that addiction is not a "brain" disease. But, his son's behavior said otherwise. In addition, the author acknowledges that one cannot drink or drug again, once "cured." How does this differ from addiction being a disease? Semantics? The author doesn't believe in the saying," once an addict, always an addict." However, the notion that once you've been addicted, you cannot use the drug or substance again, implies the same thing.

I agree that underlying issues maintain addictions. I am a proponent of Dual Diagnosis. However, that does not negate the fact that once the individual has crossed over to addiction, the brain has been altered (for most, permanently). The recovery process should consist of symptom reduction as well as exploration of underlying issues.

I did not find this book to be research based or helpful. Maybe for a layman, unfamiliar with the field of substance abuse or mental health, this book could be found innovative and useful. The most interesting chapter was Pax's chapter as he underscored the "disease of addiction."
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Could not put this down- Amazing!A little about me, then why I love this book:

39, M Drinking since 18. Pot at 22. Lots of Alcohol, cocaine and X at 26. Some would consider me straight, some consider me gay and some consider me bisexual. I consider myself 'Ron', I am me.
I do not label myself.
Why? That limits me.
This is perhaps the reason I found drugs and alcohol to be my 'God'. Took away all the confusion.

After I was introduced to cocaine at age 26, my alcohol consumption tripled. I do not need to go into details on what happens when you start using cocaine on top of alcohol, most of you reading this will know.
For 6 years I ran my life consumed by drugs and alcohol and even starting selling cocaine to support my habit. Long story short a 'friend' left my house with a buy and was pulled over...hours later I was busted by 13 policemen. This was the beginning of the end.
Needless to say I was busted, plead guilty and did some time.
Prison was not an issue with me, I really made the best of it and took the rehab program while I was on the inside.
What was upsetting? Having to see my Mother and Father through a piece of glass and giving her a 'hug' like I was E.T., touching fingers.
Something was just not right.
For the first time since I was an early teen I was completely drug and alcohol free for 6 months. I felt great, had my head clear and was ready for release.
I was released on good behavior and parole. Wow was it a whole new world.
Walking the streets of my town upon my arrival I was bombarded by people asking me 'are you holding' , meaning did I have any cocaine.
I told them no, I just got out of jail. I ran back home shaking, only to realize this is how it would be for a while.
Days went on and everyone realized now that I was reborn. Rumors were flying that I was just released from jail, found Jesus and turned straight. 2 out of 3 aint bad!

While I was on the inside I did attend 12 step meetings, and continued those for 5 years after release. My life was going great. Still though something just wasn't sitting right. I was still empty. I would go to these meetings thinking why are these people so angry? I would go to meetings and be worse after. I realized I was missing God and just wasn't connecting with the people in the rooms. I was never and never will be into 'clicks', I am my own person.

Late one night I was flipping through the channels and saw Joel Osteen.
Through his help and inspiration, I have grown from a person that was missing Faith, to someone filled with Faith.
That man has helped me change my life. I really recommend him to anyone.

Still attending meetings I started thinking about what Joel teaches, about negativity.
His encouragement and insight really doesn't mix well with AA/NA meetings in my opinion.
Meetings, in my opinion are all about negativity. Labeling ourselves as addicts and alcoholics. Telling us if you don't do to meetings you're going to drink.
Telling us only meeting makers make it! Excuse me? I will make it regardless! I drank because of fear and abandonment, now these meetings are pumping fear back at me?
I also had an incurable disease that will be inside of me forever, with no hope?
WOW. If you tell something like that to an addict or alcoholic, what will they want to do? DRINK AND DO DRUGS! This just doesn't add up.
So many contradictions in those meetings. Too much anger and poor mees for me to stick around. Needless to say I stopped going about a year ago and have felt so much better. No therapy, just Joel and a lot of self help. Even friends noticed the difference in me not attending meetings anymore.

Let me say this before I get attacked that meetings did help me in the beginning and I am not saying don't go. They can help and they did. However, meetings didn't stop me from drinking I STOPPED MYSELF! Stop with the crutch! In my opinion those meetings do more damage than good. Times have changed.

Now to this book:
Simply amazing. If I found this in my early days of abstinence I believe this would have helped me more and faster than the meetings. Even though I've been alcohol and drug free for almost 7 years, I still find this very helpful. The author tells us how we have to deal with the underlying issues that causes us to drink and use.
We are not diseased!
Wow, what a relief!

I was in the gym one day with this book taking a break when a woman grabbed it and looked at the cover. She continued to hold it in her hand and read the back. I was over by the free weights watching her through the mirror, thinking about how to approach her. I walked over and told her that it was an amazing book. We continued to talk and she had told me she was a few months sober and was having a hard time at meetings. I showed her the paragraph that tells us alcoholism is not a disease, she started to tremble. I asked her if she was okay. She got more out of that reading than any meeting she had been to.
"THAT GIVES ME HOPE", as tears ran down her face.
I gave her the book, I had to. I made a new friends and just ordered another.

She loves the book and is telling friends about it.

If 12 step meetings aren't helping, get this book!
If you do go to meetings, still get this book. It may help broaden your knowledge and help those that just don't connect with meetings.
If you are in the depths of addiction, there is hope. Life does get better.
Thank you Chris and Pax!

The brilliant and shocking truth~This book and the Passages Malibu Program are awesome. Chris Prentiss along with his Son Pax have the guts to stand up and speak out about the miserable failures of the old paradigm of alcohol and drug treatment programs. Their program is a bold step forward into the treatment of addictions and self sabbotaging behavior. There will be the old detractors who will scream from the mountain tops that this book and it's ideas are heresy, but that's because the old 12 Step model of addiction being a disease has now been proven false and people are getting cured and free from the recovery cults.

Can be costluI really think that this program can work, but with all of the counselors and Psycologists that are required, this is a very costly process....more info

Chris Prentiss the SaintI think that this book does a great job convincing people that addiction is caused by escaping from unresolved painful issues, not from the drug itself. The addiction to the drug Chris calls it dependency that can be dissolved within 3 weeks to 90 days. The story of his son is heartbreaking and is proof that Chris Prentiss is a saint and holy man. Thank God, for the people in the world trying to bring more joy and reduce the pain a person has to go through in a lifetime. I think this book will work better with some additional readings on eastern philosophy, which seems to be the foundation of Chris's personal faith. ...more info

Alcohol and addiction cureIt's a thinking out of the box way to fight an addiction. Very good book...more info

There is a cure!This book not only offers hope, but outlines very practical ways of understanding and ridding yourself of this dependency. I would recommend that even "recovered" alcoholics (and anyone with an "addiction" problem) would gain insight and relief from reading this book. Chris Prentiss is a healer and visionary....more info

A different way to look at addictionThis book is very inspirational, especially if it is you who are fighting drugs or alcohol. It gives a very different way to look at addiction. It is not traditional 12 step which is something I rebel against. Instead it has you look at your addiction from the reasons of why you abuse drugs and alcohol. Most traditional treatment only addresses addiction as the problem, but this book points out that addiction is only a symptom of your underlying problems. It gives the author's 3 step approach to digging deep to solve your addictions from the underlying problems. The author runs a treatment center in California that has a higher success rate than other treatment centers. The book also has the author's son's addiction story and how this plan has worked for him....more info

Great perspectiveThis book helped to give me a different perspective of my husband's issues with alcohol. This book gave me hope that a cure to alcoholism is possible if someone is willing. The chapter that helped me personally the most is the one that talks about nothing that happens is bad or wrong. I'm not someone who believes that AA works for everyone and this book explains that if someone is willing to get to the under issues and stop using alcohol as a coping mechanism, a cure is possible and someone can stop drinking for good and not white knuckle their way through life....more info

The Alcoholism and Addiction Cure= A holistic approach to total recoveryI wish everyone struggling with addiction of any type would read this book. This is not new information, just resisted by the average person because it's safer to stay average. If you truly, really want to be skyrocketed into the 4th dimension you so often hear about, then this book will (with it's extensively researched and proven method of healing) have to be taken to heart and accepted. Be corageous! Go back and get that little girl or boy, (your inner child) you abandoned so long ago. STRETCH, RISK, OR DIE! as Ronda Britten talks about in her book Fearless Living. I took the Alcoholism and Addiction Cure to show some friends at AA, and I felt so sad for them because they could not entertain the idea, just for a moment, that AA's 70 year old paradigm, or belief that they have been struck with a life long disease, COULD BE wrong! No, I choose not to drink, but my life long chronic depression is gone, and I am an integrated whole person now after doing the healing work, and truly see myself and this entire planet radically different than before when I was covering up my anxiety and pain with liquor and pills. Since I read this book, sitting in an AA meeting is a whole new experience because I have a more evolved perception of addiction. Step-1 should be more specific and read: My feelings were unmanagable. Step-4: Took a fearless inventory of my FEELINGS! FEEL, DEAL, HEAL! Alcohol is NOT the issue!!!!!A disruption in your energy due to underlying anxiety is! This book not only explains the truth of the problem, but has given you the path to healing on a silver platter. The only question now is how badly do you want the brass ring?? Carrie from Cameron Park...more info

A Contradiction to the "Rule"I too, am a "recovering" alcoholic with 23 years of sobriety, and I am very grateful for the gift of finding the treatment that worked for me. I stumbled across Chris Prentiss quite by mistake today, after taping a 30 minute program on the subject "Alcoholism and Addiction Cure." I felt like I had found someone who heard the same "voice" that I had heard within myself for the past 20 years. I too, consider myself an intelligent (I cannot tell you what my IQ is and I am still going to college, part time, and working full time for a large healthcare concern, but I consider myself extremely intelligent and open to new ideas)and open minded individual.
What I do know? I come from a family of addicts; my father's father emigrated from Germany before Hitler's control over that country was irrevocable and he was an alcoholic who passed the "disease" down to his sons - my father, the youngest son, died an alcoholic at the young age of 58. I will not go into detail about my childhood traumas other than to say that I began my journey into my own addiction (lucky me, my drug of choice was alcohol) when I was 15 years old. It culminated with my experiencing panic attacks in my early 20s and subsequent heavier drinking ensued in my desperate attempt to quell my rising panic attacks - I was running away from my childhood pain and I was self-medicating.
What I discovered, quite by accident and to my great relief and immense gratitude was a therapist, who was one of, if not "the," early humanistic therapists in the treatment arena. This woman walked with me through my treatment, unpeeling the layers of protection that I had wrapped by battered and abused psyche within and, after seven years of on again, off again, therapy (each new level, each new unveiling, opened doorways that I had shut and hidden behind) I walked into my first Al Anon meeting and within a month's time, my first AA meeting. I remember the intense self loathing and reluctance that I felt at having to go to that meeting where I had to admit to myself and others that I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC - the one thing that I hated my father for I had become.
The main reason I began my road to recovery in AA was, I knew I needed the strength and support of a fellowship where meeting and talking to others, who were traveling the same lonely, frightening path that I was on, would help me to "stay sober," while I continued with my individual therapy. But as much as I cherish those first couple of years in AA, I came to the realization that there had to come a time where not drinking became a personal choice and not just the choice of the group. I saw too many people who switched their addiction from the drugs or alcohol, to the group and who wouldn't miss a meeting if their lives depended on it and for many it did. And then there were the ones who moved on to other 12 step programs because they were sober but now they were attending Overeaters Anonymous or Workaholics Anonymous or Co-Dependents Anonymous because the root causes for their original addiction remained. Yes, it was healthier than being in the addiction but they still seemed frozen in time because they were still "dependent" on something outside of themselves for validation and strength or had simply switched addictions.
I left AA, but I stayed sober because I began my journey in one-on-one therapy where I was willing to do the work, no matter how painful, to heal my wounded psyche. And I did it with a therapist who allowed me to heal at my own pace and who never, ever, led or told me what I should feel, think or do. She was my guide, my mentor, my belief system when I did not believe in myself, and she let me go when it was my time to go.
When I was in my addiction I always felt like I didn't fit in with the rest of the world; but when I left AA with the belief that one had to finally make their choice not to use, a personal choice and stop being co-dependent on an outside source, I felt like I was different, there, too, and did not "fit in" with the traditional treatment for addicts. I truly believe the reason for relapse is because AA cannot provide the intense therapy necessary to find the root cause of an individual's addiction - I think "getting sober" is the easy part, staying sober, is the hardest thing to do, because then all you have is this open, gaping wound and you will eventually return to the original addiction or find another one to cover the untreated wound.
Today, I feel exonerated and I would encourage anybody who is struggling with recovery to read the book and go find a good therapist, preferably one who is humanistic or holistic (I truly believe you have to treat the mind, the body and spirit because ALL of you is involved in the addiction not just your diseased physical being) and be willing to do the work - not just counting 12 steps and giving it all up to an outside source. I am a deeply spiritual being and I believe addiction stands between you and that spirituality but you must find your own path and be willing to go it alone while in therapy, but know that you are never alone in healing. And by all means, incorporate the individual therapy with a group, such as AA, because it is extremely healing to hear your fears, pain, anger and frustrations, echoed in others - it depletes that sense of aloneness.
I am grateful for 23 years of sobriety and I am grateful that there are those in recovery programs who finally "get it" and are working on treating the mind, body, spirit! Don't give up on yourself or someone you love in addiction - I only wish those who came before, and lost to addiction, had the same opportunity.
"Seek not the favor of the multitude, for it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of the few, and number not the voices, but weigh them." Immanuel Kant
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alcoholism treatmentI like the fact that it gives a more flexable approach to recovery than the very rigid (although , successful ) suggestions put forth by AA and NA. It looks to the underlying causes of the repatative destructive behaviors associated with alcoholism (in my Case). One more tool to help those still suffering that have a bias towards AA and other 12 step recovery groups.

Alcoholism and Addiction CureI really enjoyed the author. Chris Prentiss has been there, so his view is real. This book gives hope to a close friend of mine who is dependant on alcohol. The fact that you are in charge of your life,you, not alcohol,is a fresh look at your future. ...more info

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOKAnyone who does or has ever known the trials of dealing with addiction -- either with themselves or a loved one -- needs to know there is hope for a healthy life without the pain of whatever the underlying cause of the addiction. Freedom from any substance is possible when you truly can believe and understand the truth about WHY addiction happens. Just as with human health in general, there is true healing when we realize that any and all illness and disease can be completely healed by learning how our bodies will heal themselves. When we understand that pharmaceutical drugs, surgery, and anything other than natural healing are only "bandaids" -- never a CURE -- then and only then will we find true health and happiness. This book helps to reveal those truths, and point you in the direction of positive change and knowledge that is about finding the way to the truth about ridding lives of addiction to any substance. Buy one for yourself and everyone you know, it can change lives!!! Thank you!!!...more info

Author is on the right track but misses a BIG piece of the puzzleI give the author credit for being outspoken about the topic. But he just isn't knowledgeable enough to take an authoritative approach to the subject although he comes off as though he is on the ads. His premise is correct that an addiction is the body and minds way of getting something that it needs. But he leaves out too many cures and doesn't discuss some of the worst addictions at all - like eating disorders, gambling. There are much better books in my view that explain chemical dependence and treatments....more info

The Alcoholism and Addiction CureAnyone suffering from an addiction would do well to read this book. It treats addictions as cureable rather than an incurable disease. It certainly is "food for thought," and not to be dismissed out of hand because of the word "cure" in the title....more info

Lifechanging bookthis book speaks to the issues of addictions / addictive behaviors in a way I've never read / heard before. A must read for anyone struggling not only with addiction, but the conventional view of and treatment of said addiction....more info